Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that villages identified early under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) will become key tools to protect the country and its borders.
Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day VVP workshop in New Delhi, Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the approach to border villages by designating the last village of the country as the first.
He added that every border village would be equipped with all facilities, and citizens would receive central and state government schemes to improve their lives.
“These villages will also serve as strong tools for the security of the country and its borders,” he said.
Focus on Border Security and Citizen Welfare
The Border Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is organising the workshop.
Shah also launched the official logo of the Vibrant Villages Programme.
Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Home Secretary, Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Border Management Secretary, Chief Secretaries of border states included in VVP phases one and two, Directors General of security forces, and District Magistrates of concerned districts attended the event.
Shah explained that the VVP focuses on three priorities: preventing migration from border villages, ensuring citizens receive full benefits of government schemes, and developing villages into strong tools to enhance border and national security.
Multi-Dimensional Development of Border Villages
He said the programme promotes infrastructure development, preserves culture, generates employment through tourism, and makes village life vibrant with multi-sectoral development.
Shah noted that while VVP-1 focused on the programme itself, VVP-2 requires a new administrative approach. He urged collectors to remove illegal religious encroachments within at least 30 kilometres of the border, calling them part of a deliberate design.
He praised Gujarat for clearing numerous encroachments along maritime and land borders.
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